Ventilated shoe



June 21, 1966 R. LINTON 3,

VENTILATED SHOE Filed Dec. 25, 1963 INVENTOR ROSCOE Ll NTON BY-%7Z/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 16 Claims. 01. 36-3) This invention relates to a ventilated shoe.

It is an object of the invention to provide a practical shoe having air vents below the wearers foot.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shoe;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the shoe, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the shoe of FIGURE 1 with parts broken away and pulled apart to reveal the construction.

The shoe illustrated in the drawings has a rubber or leather outsole l, a heel 2, a composition midsole 3, an interior liner or insole 4 (having three layers more fully described'below), and an upper 6. The upper has a finishing strip 6a stitched around its top edge. A tongue 6b forms part of the upper. At the rear of the shoe is a heel strap 8, and between the insole 4 and the midsole 3 is the usual metal supporting shank 9. The midsole 3 is cemented against the outsole 1, and the insole 4 against the midsole 3, the bottom edge 6c of the upper (FIGURE 2) being cemented above the midsole between the latter and the peripheral edge of the insole.

The midsole 3 has in its under surface a plurality of parallel linear slots 3a. extending transversely -of the shoe from one edge to the other. Because the upper is fixed above the midsole, the ends of these slots are not blocked by the upper, but rather are visible at either side of the shoe. The midsole 3 has a smooth upper surface save for a plurality of spaced apart circular holes 3b extending downwardly through the midsole, the diameter of each hole being large enough for each hole to intercept more than one of the slots 3a. Thus, the sole structure consisting of the outsole l and midsole 3 provides a plurality of passages with inlets (at the ends of the slots 3a) along the edges of the sole structure, and with outlets in the top surface of the midsole 3.

The insole 4 also has a smooth top surface save for a plurality of spaced apart circular holes 4a extending downwardly through the insole, and several of the holes 4a register with holes 3b. Thus air can pass into and out of the shoe, beneath the wearers foot, through the holes 4a and 3b and the slots 3a. Small arrows in FIGURE 3 indicate air flowing into the shoe.

The insole has a bottom layer 4b of reconstituted leather which renders the insole sufficiently stiff that it does not I deform downwardly to any serious extent into the midsole holes 3b and become bedded therein. Above the relatively stiff layer 412 is a soft, compressible middle layer 4c of latex foam, preferably about A inch to /s inch thick. This layer provides a cushion of resilient material that alternately compresses and expands as the weight of thewearer shifts to and from it, to cause alternate inflow and expulsion of air into and from the interior of the shoe through the holes 4a and 3b and the slots 3a. Above the middle layer 4c is a top layer 4d of English kip, the kip extending at the edges downwardly around the edges of the layer 4c and under the bottom layer 4b, as at 4e. The holes 4a should be of small transverse dimensions so that the top surface of the liner 4 feels smooth and is comfortable to the foot; preferably, there fore, the h0les 4a should not exceed about A; inch in diameter.

3,256,621 Patented June 21, 1966 The midsole holes 3b are of larger diameter than the holes 4a, but the holes 4a are more closely spaced than the holes 3b; this arrangement ensures that when the insole is laid onto the midsole several of the holes 4a and 3b will be in registration. In laying the insole the latter can if necessary be shifted slightly with respect to the midsole so that at least about a dozen of the smaller diameter holes 4a are aligned with larger ones 3b. The holes 3b are preferably about inch in diameter, but if they are much larger the insole 4 may, in

localized areas above the holes 3b, deform substantially into the holes 3b and cause the insole to feel irregular and uncomfortable to the foot. The purpose of the stiff lower layer 4b of the insole, resting on the generally smooth upper surface of the midsole, is to provide a firm base on which the cushioning layer 40 can pump air into and out of the shoe.

The ventilating holes and passages of the shoe are provided in the fore part of the shoe, where the foot tends to perspire the most. Holes 4a are provided through the insole rearwardly from the fore part of the shoe to increase the cushioning action of the insole and thus increase the amount of air that is pumped into and out of the shoe as the wearer walks. It is preferred to have none of the larger holes 3b directly below the ball of the foot, for in this area there is great downward pressure on the insole, and such pressure might deform the insole into holes in the midsole. The holes 3b are preferably spaced inwardly from the peripheral edges of the midsole, and cement is preferably applied along only the edges of the top surface of the midsole so that it does not run down the holes 3b and clog the slots 3a.

The slots 3a' are provided in the under surface of the midsole, because if placed in the top surface they would render the surface less smooth, and they would also be more easily clogged with cement. The slots 3a are preferably narrow to impede entry of foreign matter, but they can be fairly close to one another to provide numerous air passages. Slots about inch wide and 4 inch deep have been found to be satisfactory, with their center lines or axes about inch apart. Being above the outsole 1, the slots 3a are spaced upwardly from the bottom surface of the shoe by the full outside thickness, so that dirt and water will not ordinarily enter them in serious amounts. It is an easy matter to cut the slots 3a and to punch the holes 3b and 4a with inexpensive and readily available machinery, so that the manufacture of the shoe illustrated in the drawings does not present any serious problems. It will be obvious that the construction may be varied from the one specifically illustrated. For example, a Goodyear welt or stitchdown construction could be used to secure the upper above the midsole, the materials mentioned herein could easily be varied, and the shapes and arrangement of the ventilating holes and passages may be varied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A ventilated shoe comprising an outsole, a midsole against the outsole and having in its under surface a plurality of slots extending transversely of the shoe from at least one edge thereof, the midsole having a plurality of spaced apart holes extending downwardly through the midsole to communicate with the slots, an upper fixed above the midsole, and an interior liner supported by the midsole and having a top surface to receive the wearers foot, the liner having a plurality of spaced apart holes extending downwardly through the liner and registering with several of the midsole holes wherebyair can pass into and out of the shoe through the registering holes and the slots, the transverse dimensions of the liner holes being sufficiently small that the liner is comfortable to the foot.

2. A shoe claimed in claim 1, wherein the midsole holes have a larger transverse dimension than the liner holes, the liner having a bottom layer of sufficient stiffness to prevent substantial localized downward deformation of the liner into the midsole holes.

3. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the midsole holes have a larger transverse dimension than the liner holes, the liner having at least a layer of sufficient stiffness to prevent substantial localized downward deformation of the top surface of the liner above the midsole holes.

4. A shoe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the portion of the midsole below the ball of the foot is devoid of the midsole holes.

5. A shoe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slots are narrow but closely spaced and each midsole hole has a transverse dimension greater than the distance between slots to communicate with more than one slot.

6. A shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liner holes are more closely spaced than the midsole holes.

7. A shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transverse dimensions of the midsole holes do not exceed about one-quarter of an inch.

8. A shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transverse dimensions of the liner holes do not exceed about one-eighth of an inch.

9. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liner has a cushioning layer of resilient compressible material that alternately compresses and expands as the weight of the wearer shifts to and from it to cause altenate inflow and expulsion of .air into and from the interior of the shoe through the registering holes and slots.

10. A ventilated shoe comprising an outsole, a midsole against the outsole and having in its under surface a plurality of parallel narrow linear slots extending transversely thereof from one edge of the shoe to the other, the midsole having a smooth top surface save for a plurality of spaced apart holes through the midsole, the transverse dimensions of each hole not exceeding about one-quarter of an inch but being greater than the distance between slots whereby each hole intercepts more than one slot, the portion of the midsole below the ball of the foot being devoid of the holes, an upper fixed above the midsole, and a liner within the shoe above the midsole and having a bottom layer of sufficient stiffness to prevent substantial localized deformation of the liner into the midsole holes, the liner having a top layer to receive the wearers foot, the top surface of the top layer being smooth save for a plurality of spaced apart holes through the liner, the liner holes being of smaller transverse dirnensions than the midsole 'holes so that the liner is comfortable to the foot but the liner holes being more closely spaced than the midsole holes whereby several of the holes of the liner register with holes of the mid sole, the liner having a cushioning middle layer of resilient compressible material that alternately compresses and expands as the weight of the wearer shifts to and from it to cause alternate inflow and expulsion of air into and from the interior of the shoe through the registering holes and the slots.

11. A ventilated shoe comprising an outsole, a midsole against the outsole, a plurality of slots extending transversely of the shoe from at least one edge thereof between the midsole and outsole, the midsole having a smooth top surface save for a plurality of spaced apart holes extending downwardly through the midsole to communicate with the slots, an upper fixed above the midsole, and an interior liner supported by the midsole and having a top surface to receive the wearers foot, the last mentioned surface being smooth save for a plurality of spaced apart holes extending downwardly through the liner, the last mentioned holes being of smaller transverse dimensions than the midsole holes and being more closely spaced whereby several of the holes of the liner register with holes of the midsole, the transverse dimensions of the midsole holes being sufiicientsmall that the liner is comfortable to the foot, and the transverse dimensions of the midsole holes being sulficiently small and the liner sufiiciently stiff that the liner does not deform substantially into the midsole holes.

12. A shoe as claimed in claim 11, wherein the slots extend transversely from one edge of the shoe to the other.

13. A ventilated shoe comprising a sole structure having a plurality of passages with inlets along at least one edge of the sole structure, the inlets being spaced upwardly from the bottom surface of the sole structure, the passages having outlets in the top sumface of the sole structure, said top surface being otherwise smooth, an upper secured to the sole structure above the inlets so as not to block the passages, and a liner within the shoe and resting on said top surface, the liner having a bottom layer of sufficient stiffness to prevent substantial localized'deformation of the liner into the outlets, the

liner having a top layer to receive the wearers foot, the top surface of the top layer being smooth save for a plurality of spaced apart holes that extend downwardly through the liner to register with outlets of the passages, the liner having a cushioning middle layer of resilient compressible material that alternately compresses and expands as the weight of the wearer shifts to and from it to cause alternate inflow and expulsion of air into and from the interior of the shoe through registering holes and passages.

14. A shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the passages comprise slots extending transversely from one edge of the sole structure to the other.

15. A shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transverse dimensions of the liner holes do not exceed about one-eighth of an inch.

16. A shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the upper extends under the peripheral edge of the liner and is there cemented.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS I 231,398 8/1880 'Bussey 36-3 1,597,672 8/1926 Dahlqvist 363 2,239,211 4/1941 Wylie 36--3 2,720,041 10/1955 Kajtar 36-3 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VENTILATED SHOE COMPRISING AN OUTSOLE, A MIDSOLE AGAINST THE OUTSOLE AND HAVING IN ITS UNDER SURFACE A PLURALITY OF SOLTS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE SHOE FROM AT LEAST ONE EDGE THEREOF, THE MIDSOLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APRAT HOLES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE MIDSOLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SLOTS, AN UPPER FIXED ABOVE THE MIDSOLE, AND AN INTERIOR LINER SUPPORTED BY THE MIDSOLE AND HAVING A TOP SURFACE TO RECEIVE THE WEARER''S FOOT, THE LINER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART HOLES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE LINER AND REGISTERING WITH SEVERAL OF THE MIDSOLE HOLES WHEREBY AIR CAN PASS INTO AND OUT OF THE SHOE THROUGH THE REGISTERING HOLES AND THE SLOTS, THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS OF THE LINER HOLES BEING SUFFICIENTLY SMALL THAT THE LINER IS COMFORTABLE TO THE FOOT. 